Diversity

Equality and diversity is important to us. We aim to achieve the highest professional standards and expect our team to demonstrate courtesy to and respect for colleagues, clients and others at all times. We have policies and procedures designed to ensure that discrimination does not occur.

Our policies relating to equality and diversity are reviewed annually.

We are regulated by The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and, as a regulated practice, we are required to annually collect, report and publish data on the diversity of our workforce annually. We have made our report to the SRA on our 2019 diversity data.

Our team was asked to complete an anonymous diversity questionnaire. Completion of the questionnaire is not mandatory, and 16 team members chose not to complete the questionnaire. Of those who chose to complete it, many opted for 'Prefer not to say' in answer to some of the questions.

The survey results are set out below.

• Age - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire, 2 were in the age range 16-24, 8 were in the age range 25-34, 6 were in the age range 35-44, 10 were in the age range 45-54, 4 were in the age range 55-64, 1 was over the age of 65 and one preferred not to say.
• Gender - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire 27 were female, 5 were male and one preferred not to say and one identified with a gender other than that at birth.
• Ethnicity - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire, one was of another ethnicity not specified, 3 were Indian, 1 white and black Carribbean, 27 were White - British/English/Welsh/N.Irish/Scottish, 1 declined to respond and 1 was gypsy/Irish Traveller.
• Socio-economic background (education) and caring responsibilities - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire, 22 mainly attended non-selective State School between the ages of 11 and 18, and 7 attended selective State Schools. One attended an independent/fee-paying school.

Fourteen staff members were primary carers for a child under eighteen. Sixteen members of staff did not have primary responsibility for children, and one preferred not to say.

Three members of staff look after or give help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others due to long term physical or mental ill-health/disability or problems related to old age.

• Disability - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire, one considered themselves to have a disability according to the definition in the Equality Act 2010, and their day-to-day activities were limited a lot because of a health problem or disability which has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months. 
• Sexual orientation, religion and belief - There is no requirement to publish the answers given to questions on the above.

If you have any queries regarding equality and diversity in relation to Pickerings Solicitors, contact Sue Hatton, Director, on 01827 317073  or shatton@pickerings-solicitors.com